Today, all the people living in this modern world have something to pursue in life, something they wish to find or accomplish to make their lives better or happier. But reality as we all know it, is wrought with difficulties and differences. Some are clever, some are dumb, some are good talkers, some are good listeners, some are fast learners, some are just not in league, some have multi talents, some almost have none, some are good looking, some are bad looking, some are rich, some are poor.
Amidst these states of inequality and changes, what is there to be eternally happy about? This very question was once asked by The Four People.
Who are the Four People?
The Four People depicts the four main types of people in this world.
Long ago, not so different as today, unhappiness and inequality plagued the everyday lives of man. The rich dwelled in their palaces of luxuries, feeding off the labour of the poor. The poor, unhappy about their lives, strived for ways to steal and cheat from one another. The clever abusing their intellect, deceived the dumb. Driven to extremes, the poor and powerless cursed the world and all the people living in this unfair realm, forming resentful clans with those who suffered the same fate, resorting to violence and killing to vent their hate on the corrupted and deceitful.
Amidst this turmoil, there lived four men, who felt unpleased with the unrest in their lives and so each left their homes, wandering to seek an answer to whether there is a constant happiness in this world that will never fail them. Among them, two of them were scholars and thus were more versed in speech and knowledge than the other two.
One day, these four men met one another and after a long discussion, decided to set out in separate directions to seek the true happiness they sought, if it existed at all.
The first to the North, second to the South, third to the East, and fourth to the West. Before departing, they promised to return to that same place in three years' time to share with one another what they found.
With that, each of them headed out in their own directions.
Soon, three years passed, the first man returned from the north, followed by the second man from the south.
In a fit of disappointment and rage, the first man poured his complaints of how rude, ignorant, and selfish the people of the North are, caring only about their own matters of survival. These three years there have been a torment to him facing those people. He declared it was a waste of his time to understand anything from those people, and that the key to happiness could never lie there.
The second man, who was more versed in knowledge, stated how shocked he was at the ignorance and stupidity of the South people like the first man. However, his stay was more enjoyable as his vast knowledge and wits soon became widely known and respected by the clever and rich. Despite this, many officials became jealous of his fame and knowledge, and as he spent most time with the knowledgeable, the poor and ignorant were distant from him. Alas he left that place, knowing that the key to happiness could not lie there either.
Some days later, the third man returned from the East with a group of people. With a pleased smile, he told the two men about how wonderful the South was. Due to his limited knowledge and wits, he felt inferior talking to the officials.
As a result, he spent most time in the company of the poor and slow witted over the years, whom many became his friends. Despite the new company he acquired, he still yearned for great knowledge and the day he would be respected by the clever. With subtle sadness, he told he has not found complete happiness there either.
So they waited for the last man to return from the West. Days passed, yet he did not return.
Thus the three men set out for the West to gather the whereabouts of the fourth.
The land of the West were not much different from the other lands, with poor and worn down houses, the streets flooded with the poor and haggard. What was different was the people there were mostly happy and polite, be it the rich or the poor, the powerful or the helpless.
They traveled far, asking the people there about the whereabouts of a traveler but they all replied there has been no wanderers in their land for many years, only local residents lived there. While passing by a row of shabby houses, the three men heard a quite familiar voice from nearby.
Finally they found the fourth men dressed as a commoner inside one of the houses, accompanied by officials, nobles and even slaves. When the three men asked the fourth man the reason why he did not return. He replied that he has found his happiness and home, and it was there among the rich, the poor, the clever, the dumb, the beautiful and the ugly.
Puzzled, the second man, who shared equal amount of knowledge and wits as him, asked how he managed to earn the hospitality of all so many which he failed to.
What did the fourth man do or have that he didn't?
Hearing his question, the fourth man answered, 'When there is someone who needs my knowledge, I share and tell. When there is someone who counters or doubts my knowledge, I stop and listen. When there is someone who can't absorb my knowledge, I understand and accept.'
Only then the other three men realized that the key to the constant happiness they seek did not lie in the North, South, East or the West, but in the way they see the world and others, in the way they think, live and treat others. That key had lie with them all along, but they could not see it, as their pride, arrogance and prejudice were standing in their own way.
These four men told in the story above are The Four People.
Meaning behind The Four People
All people in this world mainly belonged to one of The Four People mentioned in the story above.
The First Man refers to those who are easy judgers and enjoys criticizing others and noticing the wrongs of others. These people are proud of themselves and think they are the smartest and most capable even though they are in fact not. Thus they are always unsatisfied with others and the world.
The Second Man refers to those who are similar to the first type, except that they possess genuine talents and knowledge which is useful to others. However, their talent and accomplishments make them proud and self fulfiled, and they easily criticize those lower than them, emphasizing on their weaknesses rather than strengths while admiring those on the same or higher level than themselves.
The Third Man refers to those who, despite their lack of knowledge and talent, is kind and understanding to others, specially those on the similar level of knowledge. These people are self critical, seeing their own faults first on top of others. However, a part of them sometimes yearn to be highly admired and looked upon, to become someone great. This arise inconfidence and the feeling of inferiority in their deepest hearts.
The Fourth Man refers to those who possess genuine talents and knowledge but see themselves as one soul and qualtiy with all the people. These people are the rarest of the four types. They are truly patient, modest and understanding towards those weaker than them in capabilities, seeing everyone as a capable teacher who has something to teach and to be learnt from. Even in times when they are misunderstood or criticized, they don't seek to prove themselves but focus on what they can do to benefit others. Thus these kind of people are not easily noticeable in our daily lives, but once they are noticed, lasting loyalty and friendship follow them, as others realize they are the true teachers in life.
From this story, one can learn how important compassion and humility is in life, as the catalyst and binder of healthy relationships with others as well as the door to the stable happiness which can only be realized through a compassionate and humble heart and mind.
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